A witness told Escambia County sheriff’s deputies that the couple began renting the trailer in September and she realized at some point that the child was living alone and hadn't been going to school.

The couple's landlady told deputies she called the parents to alert them to the issue. Sanders told her it was none of her business as long as the rent was paid.

A police report didn’t list the boy’s age. He told investigators he was occasionally able to contact the couple and they would bring a small amount of money and a meal or two, but he said he often couldn’t reach them.

The couple was being held in jail Tuesday and jail records didn’t indicate if they have a lawyer.